It affects all the communities right across the west of Scotland, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

Frank Maguire Lawyer

Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lung or abdomen. It can cause a great deal of pain, and responds poorly to surgery and therapies.

Frank Maguire, of Glasgow employment specialists Thompsons, believes that 5,000 ex-shipyard workers in Scotland will die in the next 10 years because of their previous exposure to asbestos.

'Rectify situation'

Before the lords' ruling, Mr Maguire said he believed that the victims had an excellent case.

He suggested that clarification was needed to end the "ridiculous situation" that a number of employers were negligent but were not liable.

"It is a terrible situation where you have the same insurance company, insuring three employers saying it was not any of them," Mr McGuire said.

Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lung

He had 550 cases in the Court of Session in Edinburgh awaiting the outcome of Thursday's judgement, with hundreds more in the future.

"These cases are terrible cases. Mesothelioma is a very virulent and painful disease.

"It affects all the communities right across the west of Scotland, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee."

He said there was a petition before parliament to reform the Court of Sessions' civil procedures to ensure that those awarded compensation received payment as quickly as possible.